One day, I stumbled upon a lock bridge. Locks can be seen all over Paris on fences, gates, bridges, etc. Couples leave them to commemorate their love.
Author: Karli Haws | Major: Apparel Merchandizing and Product Development
I chose API’s Parsons Paris Summer Art and Design program because of its relation to my Apparel Merchandising & Product Development Major, after my U of A study abroad was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. I was most attracted to the all day course offered, Fashion Design Process. At the U of A, I got less experience sewing than I would have liked because of classes going remote my sophomore year. I was always more interested in the product development side of apparel and felt that I could gain the most from this course. Additionally, this course had a fashion illustration component that sparked my interest. The first week of class was casual. I researched Parisian fashion designers, made moodboards, and sketched rough ideas of the garment I would make. The pace quickly picked up when it was time to start sewing. I found that it would not have been possible for me to finish my project had I not stayed in the studio until 8:00 pm everyday and come in on Sundays. My instructor was helpful, but I was not used to having my ideas and work critiqued so much. Instead of having my ideas for garments immediately approved, I got sent back to the drawing board several times. I had to remind myself that she was challenging me rather than trying to discourage me. Had I not been pushed, I wouldn’t have accomplished what I did by the end of class. At the U of A, I don’t think any instructor would have refused my ideas and were always available to help in the sewing lab. But the structure of this class taught me to figure things out myself by trying new things and coming up with creative solutions. Overall I am very proud of what I achieved under the circumstances and time frame.
The area of my housing, the fourteenth arrondissement (administrative district), was not a tourist area. A positive to this was that I got the experience of living like a local. Some negatives were that less people spoke English and it was harder to navigate. Tourist areas such as along the Seine river have a plethora of eating venues and frequently, menus in English. This was not the case in the fourteenth. Access to restaurants was made harder due to unspoken rules. In Paris, most restaurants and cafes close between lunch and dinner time, which is deemed as 7:00 or 7:30 pm. This meant that when my class was over in the afternoon and I wanted to get something to eat around 5:00 or 6:00, nothing was open. As well as on Sundays, many restaurants and businesses are closed all together. The metro stop closest to my apartment was closed on Sundays as well, so that was something else I had to learn to navigate.
Overall I would recommend this study abroad program. I learned a lot from my class and I got a crash course on life skills. I wish I knew the extent that I would be managing things myself. I assumed I would be with program leaders or at least a group of students most of the time. I was essentially given my apartment key and metro pass and set free. Transportation was what took me the longest to get the hang of. I would advise students to download apps that could aid in transportation ahead of time, like Apple maps, Google maps, Uber, etc. Sometimes an app you’re relying on for your route will lag, and you’ll need to switch to another. This will be easier if you already have the apps on your phone, especially if you’re already running late or your phone is low on battery. The first thing I wanted to do when I got home was crack open my favorite American snacks, squeeze my cat, and sleep for 12 hours. All of which I did.